Scars decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for a circumcision scar is granted. The claims for residuals of a circumcision other than a scar, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and etiology of bilateral hydroceles are remanded. A psychiatric examination is also required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection issues, and thus they are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 5, 2014 for the award of a 10 percent evaluation for a residual laceration scar above right eye were denied.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 5, 2014 for the grant of service connection for right eye ptosis and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper right lip scar, anterior/medial right knee scar, and left shoulder scars. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and left shoulder injury residuals were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for acne and acne scars were denied as the current ratings of 10 percent are considered accurate representations of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The issues of higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for laceration scars and bullet wound scar, and lung disorder were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and evaluation of his conditions. The initial compensable rating claim is denied, and the thoracolumbar spine disability claim is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as his appeal is moot due to his death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent evaluation for painful surgical scars of the abdomen, but has remanded the issues regarding infertility and TDIU due to infertility.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 23, 2019 for service-connected prostate cancer residuals status post prostatectomy, scar lower abdomen as secondary to service-connected prostate cancer residuals, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected prostate cancer residuals were denied.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss prior to February 3, 2018 was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected lower left leg scar was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his first left rib resection and scar is remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination, is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements about his functional impairment from service-connected disabilities and the disability picture reflected in VA outpatient and examination reports. The Veteran requires assistance with daily living activities, including taking a bath in a tub, dressing himself except for putting on necessary compression hose, attending to the wants of nature (to ensure he is properly cleaned), and getting up from bed due to his left knee collapse.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling since February 1, 2017. The Board has remanded the issues regarding increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature, status, etiology, and progression of the Veteran's claimed disability of residuals of inguinal hernia, including a keloid scar. The examiner must address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s inguinal hernia, to include the scar, was aggravated during service or if there was a chronic worsening beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for a scar on the abdomen was denied, and his small bowel obstruction was granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent. The Veteran's PTSD was denied an increased disability rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA nexus opinions, and a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has decided to remand several service connection and increased rating claims due to incomplete records, including missing STRs and VA treatment records. The Veteran's PTSD claim is also remanded for a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye condition, and an initial compensable rating for scar, residual cesarean section. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.